Once a Champion - By Jeannie Watt Page 0,29

so that she heard only her father.

“He’s all right? No wire cuts?” The sun moved out from behind a cloud as she spoke, warming Matt’s back and making Liv’s reddish-brown hair dance with glints of gold in a rather spectacular way. He didn’t remember her hair being that particular color, but they’d usually been inside, under flat incandescent light. “Good. I’ll see you soon,” she said.

Liv’s shoulders dropped as she pocketed the phone. She gave her head a small shake, then resolutely looked up at Matt. “I owe you an apology.”

Matt didn’t respond after she stated the obvious and color started to rise in her cheeks. Ah, the curse of pale skin.

“Beckett got out and went over to the Raynor place. They called, and Dad went to get him.” One corner of her mouth tightened briefly. “He thought I might get home and find him and Becket gone and worry, so...” She held up the phone.

“Too bad he didn’t call sooner.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“Yeah.” Matt looked around the field. “That makes it all better. I guess I’m lucky you didn’t call the sheriff on me.” His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t, did you?”

“No.” Liv shifted her weight, and he couldn’t help but notice that she looked pretty damned good in her worn-out jeans. Again, he couldn’t remember her ever wearing anything like that when she’d tutored him, but...maybe he didn’t remember much about Liv, except that she’d been kind of sweet and smart. And handy.

“But you were going to?” he asked, thinking that was all he needed to make his life complete.

“The thought had crossed my mind,” she said coldly.

“You honestly thought I’d come here and steal Beckett.”

“You said this wasn’t over,” Liv said. “And I happen to know that you’re not above doing what you have to in order to get your way.”

“What does that mean?”

Liv shrugged but did not elaborate.

“What did I ever do to you to earn such a low opinion? I can’t think of one freaking thing.”

Again the color rose in her cheeks, but her mouth was clamped so tightly shut that her lips were starting to turn white. Matt waited a couple seconds, and when she remained silent, he said, “I’d better go.”

He needed to get out of there before he said something he regretted. He hadn’t given up on getting Beckett back and he was so damned close to burning this bridge...

He started across the field, leaving Liv standing next to the fence. There wasn’t one single thing he understood about what had just taken place between them.

* * *

LIV CONTINUED TO WALK along the fence as Matt strode toward where he’d parked close to the barn. She refused to let herself watch him go although each step he took made her feel that much better. By the time she found the low part in the fence, where Beckett had most likely escaped, Matt was in his truck and on his way down the driveway.

Okay. Maybe she’d jumped the gun. She wanted to blame stress from a long day with Shae and her mom, but really there was no excuse for flat out accusing Matt without getting more facts. But what was she supposed to think?

Tomorrow she’d tighten the fence with the small tractor while Tim was out in the field doing men’s work, and tonight Beckett could spend the night in his stall so he didn’t wander off in search of equine company again. Horses were herd animals and Beckett was all alone. Maybe she’d get him a goat for company.

As she started to walk the last stretch of not-too-bad fence leading back to the barn, her father’s truck and trailer pulled into the driveway. Long day for him and it was her fault. She should have checked the fence before she released the horse, but never in her life had she seen any fence on the property loose enough to walk over. Tim was fanatical about upkeep.

Was.

Liv’s stomach knotted as it always did when she wondered about just what was going on with her father. How long had he been sick and was he ever going to admit he wasn’t getting better?

Maybe when pigs started flying.

That point was driven home when he got out of the truck and started to the back of the trailer to open the door. Not knowing that Liv was there, he winced as he opened the latch, then stopped and stood for a moment with his hand pressed against his side.

That was the last straw. Liv banged

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